American Airlines Missed Flight Policy

American Airlines handles a missed flight (no-show) for Business Class (and other cabins):

What counts as a “no-show”

You’re considered a no-show if you fail to board your flight and did not cancel or change your reservation before the original departure. To avoid a no-show, you must cancel or request changes at least 1 hour before scheduled departure via Manage Trips, the app, or reservations.

Impact on your itinerary

Automatic cancellation of remaining segments: A no-show for any outbound flight will cancel all subsequent segments on that ticket—including return and connections.
Forfeiture of fare value: The unused value of any no-showed segment is generally forfeited (you may only recoup government taxes) unless your ticket is refundable.

Rebooking after a missed flight

Voluntary no-show (your fault):

You can request to be rebooked on the next available flight in the same cabin and fare class, subject to seat availability.
You’ll incur a no-show fee (varies by market) plus any difference between your original fare and the new flight’s fare.

Involuntary no-show (AA’s fault):

If AA cancels or delays your original flight—causing you to miss a connection—you’ll be rebooked at no extra charge or can opt for a full refund of unused segments.

Refund eligibility

Refundable tickets: You may request a refund of unused segments even after a missed flight (cancellation fees could apply outside the 24-hour purchase window).
Non-refundable tickets: No refund—though you can often retain the residual value as a future flight credit, minus applicable fees.

What to do if you anticipate missing your flight

Cancel or change your booking ≥ 1 hour before departure.
Contact AA immediately via the app, website (“Manage Trips”), or call center to explore rebooking or credit options.
Check your fare rules under “Trip Details” for specific no-show and change-fee amounts.

Key takeaways:

Cancel at least 1 hour before to avoid a no-show.
A no-show cancels all remaining flights on your ticket.
Voluntary no-shows incur fees + fare differences; involuntary disruptions do not.
Refundability hinges on whether your fare is refundable.